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UNLV Crowned NIVC Champs
VALPARAISO, IN — In becoming the first mid-major program to win the revamped NIVC, UNLV played five matches on the road and won every one, the last in a resounding victory over Valparaiso as Mariena Hayden paced the effort with 12 kills and nine digs.
The Rebels (28-9), out of the Mountain West Conference, won the most matches in program history this season and played on the road in all their NIVC matches in 2021. The Beacons (26-10) won four matches to reach the NIVC final, all in 3-0 sweeps and all on their home court. UNLV had an 18-9 lead in kills while taking the first set, closing it out on an ace from Lauryn Burt and a kill from Hayden. In Set 2, the score was tied at 17-all before the Rebels pulled away, getting the final two points on blocks. In the closing set, UNLV took an early lead and made it stand up, closing the deal with kills from Hayden (reigning Mountain West player of the year) and Kate Brennan. Gabrielle Arretche-Ramos had 10 kills for UNLV; Brennan had eight kills, Arien Fafard dishes out 22 assists, and Shelby Capllonch added 15 digs. Jordyn Freeman led the way in blocks with nine. For Valpo, Peyton McCarthy had nine kills and Brittany Anderson had 13 assists. Rylee Cookerly had 10 digs, leaving her just one short of the NCAA D-I record of 3,176. This marked the fourth edition of the rebooted NIVC, which originally ran from 1989-95. Previous winners of the updated NIVC (powered by Triple Crown Sports) were Georgia Tech (2019), Iowa State (2018) and Ole Miss (2017). Tournament officials also announced the 2021 NIVC all-tournament team: Mariena Hayden (MVP) - UNLV Shelby Capllonch - UNLV Jordyn Freeman - UNLV Brittany Anderson - Valparaiso Peyton McCarthy - Valparaiso Serena Patterson - UTEP McKayla Wuensch - UConn HeadlinesDec. 12, 2021 - Championship recap
Dec. 10, 2021 - Semifinal recap Dec. 9, 2021 - Semifinal recap Dec. 8, 2021 - Quarterfinal recap Dec. 8, 2021 - UConn rides right mental approach to NIVC quarters Dec. 7, 2021 - Quarterfinal recaps Dec. 6, 2021 - Quarterfinal recap Dec. 5, 2021 - Round 2 recap Dec. 4, 2021 - Round 1, 2 recaps Dec. 4, 2021 - Arkansas excited to write its own story at NIVC Dec. 3, 2021 - Round 1, 2 recaps Dec. 2, 2021 - Round 1 recaps Dec. 1, 2021 - CSU ready for lessons, extra touches at NIVC Nov. 28, 2021 - Officials Announce Selections for 2021 NIVC |
2021 NIVC Teams
AUTOMATIC QUALIFIERS
Arkansas (19-10) – SEC Colorado State (18-10) – Mountain West* Delaware State (26-4) – MEAC* Houston Baptist (21-8) – Southland Jackson State (17-13) – SWAC* Pacific (13-16) – WCC Sam Houston State (18-9) – WAC* UConn (21-10) – Big East UTEP (21-7) – C-USA Weber State (20-9) – Big Sky* *Denotes conference regular season champion AT-LARGE TEAMS
Arizona (16-15) – Pac-12 Bradley (16-14) – Missouri Valley Boston College (16-16) – ACC Butler (16-15) – Big East Chicago State (17-10) – WAC CSU Bakersfield (18-10) – Big West Evansville (19-11) – Missouri Valley Indiana State (18-12) – Missouri Valley Middle Tennessee (9-11) – C-USA New Mexico State (19-9) – WAC North Carolina A&T (20-10) – Big South North Florida (24-7) – Atlantic Sun Portland State (19-10) – Big Sky Stephen F. Austin (18-9) – WAC Troy (17-12) – Sun Belt Tulsa (14-15) – American Toledo (19-12) – MAC UNC Greensboro (23-7) – Southern UNLV (23-9) – Mountain West Univ. Texas Rio Grande Valley (17-10) – WAC Valparaiso (22-9) – Missouri Valley | ||